Maximus was on the field with his father, they were on their break after a harsh day of work. Today was the tax day, that's why they were working so much, so they could give 5% of what they have on their field to the landlord.
"Father, I think we gathered everything." said Maximus tiredly yet calm.
"Yes, I think so." answered his father.
Before they could chat a bit more, sounds of horses coming could be heard, Maximus was the first one to notice it, and on the same instant he got silent, his eyes shining a little with happiness, the reason? His dream is to become a knight, just like the ones who comes to take the taxes every month, he yearns it, however, he's never touched a sword before, so you could say its just a dream, not even a goal, just a dream, after all, on this world if you're born a peasant, you'll die a peasant.
The knights stopped right before them, they were 3, all of them in full armor and with their swords on sheath. The leader of them, the one who looked the strongest and the tallest spoke first, his words aiming John, the owner of that land and father of Maximus.
"Hello John," he said calmly and looked to Maximus "Maximus." saying his name with a nod of his head, showing he acknowledges him too "5% as always, where is it?" his tone could look impatient, but to those who knew him it was just his way of being.
"Hi Stephen, it's right there." said John pointing his finger to a little mount of wheat nearby them "This season the weather was not kind, so the amount will be lesser, I hope my Liege recognizes that."
"He will. He's a kind lord, you know that, John." replied the knight, defending the honor of the Liege.
Maximus is silent while hearing all of this conversation, the only thing he can focus is on the sword at Stephen's sheath, every time is like this, he stares at it but never touches it, but this time everything will change.
"Sir, could I… touch it?" Maximus voice is a little hesitant, but full of confidence and determination, that was his dream since a kid, and after 17 years of life, he finally gathered the confidence to ask for it.
Stephen looks a little taken aback, that was not a normal request, but he can see the shine on Maximus' eyes and he gives him a little nod and a kind smile, after all, that was the same shine present on his own eyes when he was a kid and saw his father fighting for the first time, but somehow even more intense.
"Sure. Be brief." Stephen skillfully takes the sword off his sheath and places its pommel on Maximus' hand, and slowly release it.
Maximus holds it tightly, like it is the most important thing of the entire galaxy, his mouth even opens a little bit because of his amaze "So… beautiful." his voice is low and dreamily.
Before he could rejoice a little more, the knight Stephen leans in and takes the sword gently yet with the rigidness of a soldier from his hands and places back on his sheath "Yes. Maybe on your next life, if the Goddess is merciful, you'll be able to be a knight. Work good on this life and she may reward you, kid" his voice is kind and sincere.
John hearing the words coming from Stephen's mouth frowns slightly, after all, John is not quite fond of the Goddess and her teachings, but he hides it and just thanks Stephen "Thanks. Now, I think you should get back to work, shouldn't you?" his voice calm yet sharp.
Stephen nod "Yes, you're right, old man." He turns to his partners on job "Take the tax, we need to go." His silent yet efficient partners nod and go take the taxes with extremely efficiency then leave with him.
"Do you think the Goddess will let me be a knight on my next life, dad?" said Maximus while watching them go to his father.
"I don't know, and I don't want to." his father says, his voice getting sharper, but then, he sighs calmly "Anyways, back to work, young man."
Maximus nod calmly and resume to work.
Later on that day, close to the sunset, Maximus is walking around the village with his younger brother.
"Joseph, do you remember what do we need to buy?" said Maximus while walking, he's here because his mother needed some ingredients for the cake she wants to bake, and she decided it would be good to Joseph to go with him, with that, Joseph could spend some time with his brother.
"We need sugar, flour and… 3 eggs, the rest mom has." said Joseph with an innocent and happy tone, he loves to spend time with his brother, and it makes a long time they don't walk around together.
As they walk, they pass by some of Maximus' friends who quickly recognize him.
"Oh, hey Maximus!" said Nathan extending his hand to shake, one of Maximus' childhood friends.
"Nathan." Maximus nods calmly to him.
Before Maximus could shake Nathan's hand Beatrice practically throws herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"Hi to you too, Shorty." Maximus smiles calmly as he hugs her back.
"How many times do I have to ask you to don't call me that?!" said Beatrice with an innocent yet amused smile on her face.
She leaves his arms and then Maximus can finally shake Nathan's hand. After the shake he looks at them and say "Follow us, we can talk on the way."
The four enter the main marketplace of the village while talking.
"So, how are you doing? I don't see you two in days" Maximus says calmly and with a calm smile in his face, the work on the field is occupying most of his time, and he doesn't gets too much time to spend with his friends like he did on past.
"Ah, you know, dude, the same of always. Dad's making me study my ass off and I have to practice swordsmanship everyday, I'm getting tired of seeing swords already, dude." his voice is calm and at ease, but his exhaustion is evident.
"Stop to complain, you're such a pain in the ass." said Beatrice to Nathan in an amused and teasingly tone "Anyways. I'm studying a lot to pass on the Royal Academy's exams, you already know that, my family is a noble one. The problem is, if I pass I'll have to travel to the capital."
Maximus sighs calmly and, like always, successfully hides his envy towards his friends. He finds the fact of his friends being from noble and knight families a cruel joke from the universe, after all, they have the life he wants to have, the life he yearns to have, but the life that the Goddess refused to give to him.
They finish the groceries and leave, they disperse, Nathan and Beatrice returning to their way, and the same for Maximus and Joseph. They return home safe, both entering it calmly while chatting.
"Hey bro, do you think Nathan will let me play with his dad's swords some day?" asked Joseph innocently.
Maximus stares directly into his eyes, he just wants to say yes… but he can't feed his brother's hopes on such way, that would be way too cruel "No Joseph, you know he wouldn't" replied Maximus with a flat yet slightly sad tone "Just them can, just them."
Maximus is sad